element14 Community Launches Design Challenge to Help Fight COVID-19

element14, an Avnet community, announced the launch of the “Fighting Germs” Project14 design challenge. The challenge is engaging element14’s problem-solving designers and engineers to find innovative solutions to fighting germs, one of the most efficient ways to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The goal of this challenge is for members of the element14 Community to create an affordable project that utilizes resources and components that are readily available so others can easily replicate their designs. The hope is that numerous people around the world will be able to help slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their communities with these innovative approaches.

“Everyone has the opportunity to do their part to help slow the spread of this disease, and that is especially true of our amazing community of engineers, makers and hobbyists,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for the element14 Community. “Our members came to us just as the lock-downs started and asked us to launch a challenge for new innovations in this area. We encourage our more than 720,000 members to put their unique design skills to work and create solutions to help prevent the spread of this pandemic.”

The design challenge is tackling today’s most pressing global problem head-on, while encouraging the element14 Community to be part of the solution in fighting the spread of this pandemic. Unlike other design challenges, there are no specific requirements to participate. Potential solutions could include:

Face protection
Body temperature monitor\access controls
Contactless disinfection of frequently touched surfaces
Automated disease testing
The grand prize winner of the “Fighting Germs” design challenge will win a $200 shopping cart to element14.com, a $200 donation to their preferred COVID-19 charitable cause and a Flir thermal imaging camera. An additional 3 winners will each receive $100 shopping carts to element14.com to help bring their designs to life along with a UV sanitizing lamp. Members can work on tackling this challenge solo or in teams, as long as they collaborate remotely.

element14’s Project14 competition series is by members for members. For this monthly project competition, element14 Community members decide the competition, come up with ideas for new themes, and vote for the themes they want to pursue. By opening this competition to a broad audience, novices, experts, and everyone in between come together to learn from and share with each other as they work to turn their ideas into finished projects.